Science Fiction
Double Dare
By Robert Silverberg
contemporary
Double Dare by Robert Silverberg
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Copyright ©1956 by Robert Silverberg
Originally published in Galaxy Magazine, November 1956
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Double Dare by Robert Silverberg
BY THE TIME the spaceship had finished jiggling and actually
stood firmly on Domerangi soil, Justin Marner was beginning to
doubt his sanity.
 We must be crazy, he said.  We must be.
The other Earthman, who had been gazing out the viewplate
at the green-and-gold alien vista, glanced around suddenly at
Marner's remark.  Huh?
 There are limits to which one goes in proving a point,
Marner said. He indicated the scene outside.  This little journey
exceeds the limits. Now that we're here, Kemridge, I'm sure of
it. Nobody does things like this.
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Double Dare by Robert Silverberg
Kemridge shrugged sourly.  Don't be silly Justin. You know
why we're here, and you know how come we're here. This isn't
any time to 
 All right, Marner said.  I take it all back. He stared for a
moment at his delicate, tapering fingers the fingers that could
have belonged to a surgeon, were they not the property of a
top-rank technical engineer.  Don't pay any attention to
whatever I just said. It's the strain that's getting me.
The door of the cabin chimed melodiously.
 Come in, said Kemridge.
* * * *
The door slid open and a Domerangi, clad in a bright yellow
sash, gray-green buskins, and a glittering diadem of precious
gems, stepped heavily into the cabin. He extended two of his
five leathery tentacles in welcome.
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Double Dare by Robert Silverberg
 Hello, gentlemen. I see you've come through the trip in fine
shape.
 What's going on now, Plorvash? Marner asked.
 The ship has landed at a spaceport just outside the city, the
alien said.  I've come to take you to your quarters. We're giving
you two the finest accommodations our planet can offer. We
want your working conditions to be of the best.
 Glad to hear it. Marner flicked a glance at his companion.
 They're most considerate, aren't they, Dave?
The taller of the two Earthmen nodded gravely.  Definitely.
Plorvash grinned.  Suppose you come with me now. You would
like to be well rested before you undertake your task. After all,
you should be at your best, since planetary pride is at stake.
 Of course, Marner said.
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Double Dare by Robert Silverberg
 The test will begin as soon as you wish. May I offer you good
luck?
 We won't need it, Kemridge stated grimly.  It's not a matter
of luck at all. It's brains brains and sweat.
 Very well, Plorvash said.  This is what you're here to prove.
It ought to be amusing, in any case whatever the outcome may
be.
Both Earthmen tried to look calm and confident, absolutely
sure of themselves and their skill.
They merely managed to look rigidly worried.
* * * *
Statisticians have no records on the subject, but it is an
observed phenomenon that the most serious differences of
opinion generally originate in bars. It had been in a bar at 46th
Street and Sixth Avenue that Justin Marner had ill-advisedly had
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Double Dare by Robert Silverberg
words with a visiting Domerangi, a month before, and it had
been in the same bar that the train of events that had brought
the two Earthmen to Domerang V had started and never
stopped gaining momentum.
It had been a simple altercation at first. Marner had been
reflectively sipping a whisky sour, and Kemridge, seated to his
left with his long legs uncomfortably scrunched up, had been
toying with a double Scotch. The Domerangi had entered the bar
with a characteristically ponderous stride.
Though contact with Domerang V had been made more than a
century before, Domerangi were still rare sights in New York.
Marner and Kemridge knew this one, though he was attached
to the Domerangi Consulate on 66th Street and Third, and they
had had dealings with him a year ago in the matter of some
circuit alignments for the building's lighting system. Domerangi,
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Double Dare by Robert Silverberg
with their extraordinary peripheral vision, prefer subdued,
indirect lighting, and Marner and Kemridge had designed the
lighting plot for the Consulate.
The Domerangi spotted them immediately and eased his bulk
onto the stool next to them.  Ah, the two clever engineers, the
alien rumbled.  You remember me, of course?
 Yes, Marner said quickly.  How's the lighting job working
out?
 As well as could be expected. The Domerangi waved toward
the bartender.  Barkeep! Two beers, please.
 What do you mean by that? Kemridge demanded as the
beers were drawn and set on the bar.
 Just one moment, please. The alien curled two tentacles
gently around the beers and poured one into each of the two
feeding-mouths at the sides of his face.  Marvelous liquid, your
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Double Dare by Robert Silverberg
beer. The one point where Earth is clearly superior to Domerang
is in brewing.
 To get back to the lights  Kemridge prodded.
 Oh, yes, the alien said.  The lights. Well, they're a pretty fair
job as good as we could have hoped for from a second-rate
technology.
 Now hold on a minute! Marner said hotly, and that was how
it started.
* * * *
 I wish we'd kept our mouths shut, Marner said glumly. He
stared balefully at the spotless ceiling of the hotel room in which
the Domerangi had installed them.
Kemridge whirled and glared down at the smaller man.  Listen,
Justin: we're here and we're going to show them up and go
home rich and famous. Got that?
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Double Dare by Robert Silverberg
 Okay, Marner said. He ran a finger along his thin lower lip.
 I'm sorry I keep popping off like this. But it does seem screwy
to have gone to this extent just to prove a point that came up in
a barroom debate.
 I know. But we wouldn't have come here if the State
Department hadn't heard about the argument and thought it
needed settling. The Domerangi have been acting lordly about
their technology as long as we've known them. I think it's a
great idea to send a couple of honest-to-Christmas Terran
engineers up here to show them once and for all who's got what
it takes.
 But suppose we don't show them?
 We will! Between the two of us, we can match anything they
throw at us. Can't we?
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Double Dare by Robert Silverberg
Marner smiled gloomily.  Sure we can, he said without
conviction.  I haven't doubted it for one minute.
Kemridge walked to the door and, with a swift searching
motion of his fingers, found the plate that covered the door
mechanism. He unclipped it.
 Look in here, for example, he said, after a moment's
scrutiny.  Simple cybernetic mechanism. I don't quite figure the
way this green ceramic relay down here controls the power flow,
but it's nothing we couldn't dope out, given a screwdriver and a
little spare time.
Marner stood on tiptoes and peered in.  Perfectly
understandable gadget, be commented.  Not nearly as efficient
as our kind, either.
 That's just the point, Kemridge said.  These Domerangi
aren't half the sharks they think they are. We stipulated that we
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Double Dare by Robert Silverberg
could duplicate anything they gave us, right? With our natural
savvy and a little perspiration, we ought to be able to match the
best gadget they test us with. If we follow through up here and
those two Domerangi engineers on Earth mess up their half of
the test, then we've done it. The State Department's counting
on our versatility. That's all we need, Justin cleverness!
Marner's eyes lit up.  Dave, I'm sorry I was so pig-headed a
minute ago. We'll give them the business, all right!
He stood up a little higher and gingerly extended a hand into
the gaping servomechanism in the wall.
 What are you doing? Kemridge asked.
 Never mind. Get on the phone and tell Plorvash that we'll be
ready to get to work tomorrow. While you're doing that, I want
to fool with this relay. Might as well get some practice now! He
was radiant with new-found enthusiasm.
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Double Dare by Robert Silverberg
* * * *
When Plorvash knocked on the door the following morning,
the mood was still on them. They were clear-eyed, wide awake,
and firmly convinced they could master any problem.
 Who's there? Marner asked loudly.
 Me, the Domerangi said.  Plorvash.
Instantly the door flew open and the dumbfounded alien
charge d'affaires was confronted with the sight of the two
Earthmen still snug in their beds. He peered behind the door and
in the closet.
 Who opened the door? he asked suspiciously.
Marner sat up in bed and grinned.  Try it again. Go outside
and call out  Plorvash the way you just did.
The alien lumbered out, pulling the door shut behind him.
When he was outside, he said his name again and the door
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Double Dare by Robert Silverberg
opened immediately. He thundered across the threshold and
looked from Marner to Kemridge.  What did you do?
 We were experimenting with the door-opener last night,
Kemridge said.  And before we put it back together, we decided
it might be fun to rig up a modified vocoder circuit that would
open the door automatically at the sound of the syllables
 Plorvash directed at it from outside. It works very nicely.
The alien scowled.  Ah yes. Very clever. Now as to the terms
of this test you two are to engage in: We've prepared a fully
equipped laboratory for you in Central Sqorvik that's a suburb
not far from here and we've set up two preliminary problems
for you, as agreed. When you've dealt with those if you've
dealt with those we'll give you a third.
 And if we don't deal with them successfully?
 Why, then you'll have failed to demonstrate your ability.
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Double Dare by Robert Silverberg
 Reasonable enough, Marner said.  But just when do we win
this thing? Do you go on giving us projects till we miss?
 That would be the ultimate proof of your ability, wouldn't it?
Plorvash asked.  But you'll be relieved to know that we have no
such plans. According to the terms of the agreement between
ourselves and your government, the test groups on each planet
will be required to carry out no more than three projects. The
alien's two mouths smiled unpleasantly.  We'll consider
successful completion of all three projects as ample proof of
your ability.
 I don't like the way you say that, Kemridge objected.
 What's up your sleeve?
 My sleeve? I don't believe I grasp the idiom, Plorvash said.
 Never mind. Just a Terran expression, said Kemridge.
* * * *
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Double Dare by Robert Silverberg
A car was waiting for them outside the hotel a long, low job
with a pulsating flexible hood that undulated in a distressing
fashion, like a monstrous metal artery.
Plorvash slid the back door open.  Get in. I'll take you to the
lab to get started.
Marner looked at the alien, then at Kemridge. Kemridge
nodded.  How about one for the road? Marner suggested.
 Eh?
 Another idiom, he said.  I mean a drink. Alcoholic beverage.
Stimulant of some kind. You catch?
The alien grinned nastily.  I understand. There's a dispensary
on the next street. We don't want to rush you on this thing,
anyway. He pointed to the moving roadway.  Get aboard and
we'll take a quick one.
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Double Dare by Robert Silverberg
They followed the Domerangi onto the moving strip and a
moment later found themselves in front of a domed structure
planted just off the roadway.
 It doesn't look very cozy, Kemridge commented as they
entered. A pungent odor of ether hit their nostrils. Half a dozen
Domerangi were lying on the floor, holding jointed metal tubes.
As they watched, Plorvash clambered down and sprawled out on
his back.
 Come join me, he urged.  Have a drink. He reached for a
tube that slithered across the floor toward him and fitted it into
his left feeding mouth.
 This is a bar? Kemridge asked unhappily.  It looks more like
the emergency ward of a hospital.
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Double Dare by Robert Silverberg
Plorvash finished drinking and stood up, wiping a few drops of
green liquid from his jaw.  Good, he said.  It's not beer, but it's
good stuff. I thought you two wanted to drink.
Marner sniffed the ether-laded air in dismay and shook his
head.  We're not thirsty. It takes time to get used to alien
customs, I suppose.
 I suppose so, Plorvash agreed.  Very well, then. Let's go to
the lab, shall we?
* * * *
The laboratory was, indeed, a sumptuous place. The two
Earthmen stood at the entrance to the monstrous room and
marveled visibly.
 We're impressed, Marner said finally to the Domerangi.
 We want to give you every opportunity to succeed, Plorvash
said.  This is just as important for us as it is for you.
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Double Dare by Robert Silverberg
Marner took two or three steps into the lab and glanced
around. To the left, an enormous oscilloscope wiggled greenly at
him. The right-hand wall was bristling with elaborate
servomechanisms of all descriptions. The far wall was a gigantic
toolchest, and workbenches were spotted here and there. The
lighting indirect, of course was bright and eye-easing. It was
the sort of research setup a sane engineer rarely bothers even
to dream of.
 You're making it too easy for us, said Kemridge.  It can't be
hard to pull off miracles in a lab like this.
 We are honest people. If you can meet our tests, we'll grant
that you're better than we are. If you can, that is. If you fail, it
can't be blamed on poor working conditions.
 Fair enough, Kemridge agreed.  When are you ready to
start?
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Double Dare by Robert Silverberg
 Immediately. Plorvash reached into the bagging folds of his
sash and withdrew a small plastic bubble, about four inches
long, containing a creamy-white fluid.
 This is a depilator, he said. He squeezed a few drops out of
the bubble into the spoonlike end of one tentacle and rubbed the
liquid over the thick, heavy red beard that sprouted on his lower
jaw. A streak of beard came away as he rubbed.  It is very
useful. He handed the bubble to Marner.  Duplicate it.
 But we're engineers, not chemists, Marner protested.
 Never mind, Justin. Kemridge turned to the alien.  That's the
first problem. Suppose you give us the second one at the same
time, just to make things more convenient. That way, we'll each
have one to work on.
Plorvash frowned.  You want to work on two projects at once?
All right. He turned, strode out, and returned a few moments
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Double Dare by Robert Silverberg
later, carrying something that looked like a large mousetrap
inside a cage. He handed it to Kemridge.
 We use this to catch small house pests, Plorvash explained.
 It's a self-baiting trap. Most of our house pests are color-
sensitive and this trap flashes colors as a lure. For example, it
does this to trap vorks  he depressed a lever in the back and
the trap glowed a lambent green  and this to catch flaibs.
Another lever went down and the trap radiated warm purple. An
unmistakable odor of rotting vegetation emanated from it as
well.
 It is, as you see, most versatile, the alien went on.  We've
supplied you with an ample number of vermin of different
sorts they're at the back of the lab, in those cages and you
ought to be able to rig a trap to duplicate this one. At least, I
hope you can.
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Double Dare by Robert Silverberg
 Is this all? Kemridge asked.
Plorvash nodded.  You can have all the time you need. That
was the agreement.
 Exactly, Kemridge said.  We'll let you know when we've
gotten somewhere.
 Fine, said Plorvash.
After he had left, Marner squeezed a couple of drops of the
depilatory out onto the palm of his hand. It stung and he
immediately shook it off.
 Better not fool with that till we've run an analysis, Kemridge
suggested.  If it's potent enough to remove Domerangi beards,
it's probably be a good skin-dissolver for Earthmen. Those
babies have tough hides.
Marner rubbed his hand clean hastily.  What do you think of
the deal in general?
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Double Dare by Robert Silverberg
 Pretty soft, Kemridge said.  It shouldn't take more than a
week to knock off both these things, barring complications.
Seems to me they could pick tougher projects than these.
 Wait till the final one, warned Marner.  These are just warm-
ups.
* * * *
Four days later, Marner called Plorvash from the lab. The
alien's bulky form filled the screen.  Hello, he said mildly.
 What's new?
 We've finished the job, Marner reported.
 Both of them?
 Naturally.
 I'll be right over.
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Double Dare by Robert Silverberg
Plorvash strode into the lab about fifteen minutes later, and
the two Earthmen, who were busy with the animal cages at the
back of the lab, waved in greeting.
 Stay where you are, Kemridge called loudly. He reached up,
pressed a switch, and thirty cages clanged open at once.
As a horde of Domerangi vermin came bounding, slithering,
crawling, and rolling across the floor toward Plorvash, the alien
leaped back in dismay.  What kind of trick is this?
 Don't worry, Marner said, from the remotest corner of the
lab.  It'll all be over in a second.
The animals ignored Plorvash and, to his surprise, they made a
beeline for a complex, humming arrangement of gears and
levers behind the door. As they approached, it began flashing a
series of colors, emanating strange odors, and making curious
clicking noises. When the horde drew closer, jointed arms
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Double Dare by Robert Silverberg
suddenly sprang out and scooped them wholesale into a hopper
that gaped open at floor level. Within a moment, they were all
stowed away inside.
Marner came across the lab, followed by Kemridge.  We've
improved on your model, he said.  We've built a better trap.
Your version can deal with only one species at a time.
Plorvash gulped resoundingly.  Very nice. Quite remarkable, in
fact.
 We have the schematics in our room, said Kemridge.  The
trap may have some commercial value on Domerang.
 Probably, Plorvash admitted.  How'd you do on the
depilator?
 That was easy, Marner said.  With the setup you gave us,
chemical analysis was a snap. Only I'm afraid we've improved
on the original model there, too.
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Double Dare by Robert Silverberg
 What do you mean?
Marner rubbed the side of his face uneasily.  I tried our stuff
on myself, couple of days ago, and my face is still smooth as a
baby's. The effect seems to be permanent.
 You'll submit samples, of course, Plorvash said.  But I think
it's fairly safe to assume that you've passed through the first
two projects ah reasonably well. Curiously, your counterparts
on Earth also did well on their preliminaries, according to our
Consul in New York.
 Glad to hear it, Marner lied.  But the third problem tells the
tale, doesn't it?
 Exactly, said Plorvash.  Let's have that one now, shall we?
* * * *
A few minutes later, Marner and Kemridge found themselves
staring down at a complicated nest of glittering relays and tubes
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Double Dare by Robert Silverberg
that seemed to power an arrangement of pistons and rods.
Plorvash had carried it in with the utmost delicacy and had
placed it on a workbench in the middle of the vast laboratory.
 What is it? Marner asked.
 You'll see, promised the alien. He fumbled in the back of the
machine, drew forth a cord, and plugged it into a wall socket. A
small tube in the heart of the machine glowed cherry red and
the pistons began to move, first slowly, then more rapidly. After
a while, it was humming away at an even, steady clip, pistons
barreling back and forth in purposeless but inexorable motion.
Kemridge bent and peered as close to the workings of the
gadget as he dared.  It's an engine. What of it?
 It's a special kind of engine, Plorvash said.  Suppose you
take the plug out.
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Double Dare by Robert Silverberg
The Earthman worked the plug from its socket and looked at
the machine. Then the plug dropped from his limp hand and
skittered to the floor.
 It doesn't stop going, does it? Kemridge asked quietly.  The
pistons keep on moving.
 This is our power source, Plorvash said smugly.  We use
them in vehicles and other such things. It's the third problem.
 We'll give it a try, Marner tried to say casually.
 I'll be most interested in the results, Plorvash said,  And now
I must bid you a good day.
 Sure, Marner said weakly.  Cheers.
They watched the broadbeamed alien waddle gravely out of
the laboratory, waited till the door was closed, and glanced at
the machine.
It was still moving.
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Marner licked his lips and looked pleadingly at Kemridge.
 Dave, can we build a perpetual-motion machine?
* * * *
The Domerangi machine worked just as well plugged in or
unplugged, once it had tapped some power source to begin with.
The pistons threaded ceaselessly up and down. The basic
components of the thing seemed simple enough.
 The first step to take, Marner said,  is to shut the damned
thing off so we can get a look at its innards.
 How do we do that?
 By reversing the power source, I suppose. Feed a negative
pulse through that power input and that ought to do it. We'll
have to reverse the polarity of the signal.
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Double Dare by Robert Silverberg
Half an hour's hard work with the tools and solder had done
that. They plugged the scrambled cord into the socket and the
machine coughed twice and subsided.
 Okay, Marner said, rubbing his hands with an enthusiasm he
did not feel.  Let's dig this baby apart and find out what makes
it tick. He turned and stared meaningfully at Kemridge.  And
let's adopt this as a working credo, Dave: inasmuch as the
Domerangi have already built this thing, it's not impossible.
Okay?
 That seems to be the only basis we can approach it on,
Kemridge agreed.
They huddled around the device, staring at the workings.
Marner reached down and pointed at a part.  This thing is
something like a tuned-plate feedback oscillator, he observed.
 And I'll bet we've almost got a thyratron tube over here. Their
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technology's a good approximation of ours. In fact, the whole
thing's within our grasp, technically.
 Hmm. And the result is a closed regenerative system with
positive feedback, Kemridge said dizzily.  Infinite energy, going
round and round the cycle. If you draw off a hundred watts or
so well, infinity minus a hundred is still infinity!
 True enough. Marner wiped a gleaming bead of perspiration
from his forehead.  Dave, we're going to have to puzzle this
thing out from scratch. And we don't dare fail.
He reached doggedly for a screwdriver.  Remember our motto.
We'll use our natural savvy and a little perspiration, and we
ought to do it.
Three weeks later, they had come up with their first trial
model which wobbled along for half an hour, then gave up.
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And a month after that, they had a machine that didn't give
up.
* * * *
Hesitantly, they sent for Plorvash.  There it is, Marner said,
pointing to the bizarre thing that stood next to the original
model. Both machines were humming blithely, plugs dangling
from the sockets.
 It works? Plorvash whispered, paling.  It hasn't stopped yet,
Marner said. There were heavy rings under his eyes and his
usually plump face was drawn, with the skin tight over his
cheekbones. It had been two months of almost constant strain
and both Earthmen showed it.
 It works, eh? Plorvash asked.  How?
 A rather complex hyperspace function, Kemridge said.  I
don't want to bother explaining it now you'll find it all in our
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report but it was quite a stunt in topology. We couldn't actually
duplicate your model, but we achieved the same effect, which
fulfills the terms of the agreement.
 All as a matter of response to challenge, said Marner.  We
didn't think we could do it until we had to so we did.
 I didn't think you could do it, either, Plorvash said hoarsely.
He walked over and examined the machine closely.  It works,
you say? Honestly, now? His voice was strained.
 Of course, Marner said indignantly.  We have just one
question. Kemridge pointed to a small black rectangular box
buried deep in a maze of circuitry in the original model.  That
thing down there it nearly threw us. We couldn't get it open
and so we had to bypass it and substitute a new system for it.
What in blazes is it?
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Double Dare by Robert Silverberg
Plorvash wheeled solidly around to face them.  That, he said
in a strangled voice,  is the power source. It's a miniature
photoelectric amplifier that should keep the model running for
oh, another two weeks or so. Then the jig would have been up.
 How's that? Marner was startled.
 It's time to explain something to you, the alien said wearily.
 We don't have any perpetual-motion machines. You've been
cruelly hoaxed into inventing one for us. It's dastardly, but we
didn't really think you were going to do it. It took some of our
best minds to rig up the model we gave you, you know.
Marner drew up a lab stool and sat down limply, white-faced.
Kemridge remained standing, his features blank with disbelief.
Marner said,  You mean we invented the thing and you
didn't you 
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Double Dare by Robert Silverberg
Plorvash nodded.  I'm just as astonished as you are, he said.
He reached for a lab stool himself and sat down. It groaned
under his weight.
Kemridge recovered first.  Well, he said after a moment of
silence,  now that it's all over, we'll take our machine and go
back to Earth. This invalidates the contest, of course.
 I'm afraid you can't do that, Plorvash said.  By a statute
enacted some seven hundred years ago, any research done in a
Domerangi government lab is automatically government
property. Which means, of course, that we'll have to confiscate
your ahem project.
 That's out of the question! Marner said hotly.
 And, furthermore, we intend to confiscate you, too. We'd like
you to stay and show us how to build our machines.
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Double Dare by Robert Silverberg
 This is cause for war, Kemridge said.  Earth won't let you get
away with this this kidnapping!
 Possibly not. But in view of the way things have turned out,
it's the sanest thing we can do. And I don't think Earth will go to
war over you.
 We demand to see our Consul, said Marner.
 Very well, Plorvash agreed.  It's within your rights, I
suppose.
* * * *
The Earth Consul was a white-haired, sturdy gentleman
named Culbertson, who arrived on the scene later that day.
 This is very embarrassing for all of us, the Consul said. He
ran his hands nervously down his traditional pin-striped
trousers, adjusting the crease.
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Double Dare by Robert Silverberg
 You can get us out of it, of course, Marner said.  That
machine is our property and they have no right to keep us
prisoners here to operate it, do they?
 Not by all human laws. But the fact remains, unfortunately,
that according to their laws, they have every right to your
invention. And by the treaty Of 2716, waiving extraterritorial
sovereignty, Earthmen on Domerang are subject to Domerangi
laws, and vice versa. He spread his hands in a gesture of
sympathetic frustration.
 You mean we're stuck here, Marner said bluntly. He shut his
eyes, remembering the nightmare that was the Domerangi
equivalent of a bar, thinking of the morbid prospect of spending
the rest of his life on this unappetizing planet, all because of
some insane dare.  Go on, tell us the whole truth.
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Double Dare by Robert Silverberg
The Consul put the palms of his hands together delicately.  We
intend to make every effort to get you off, of course naturally
so, since we owe a very great debt to you two. You realize that
you've upheld Earth's pride.
 Lot of good it did us, Marner grunted.
 Nevertheless, we feel anxious to make amends for the whole
unhappy incident. I can assure you that we'll do everything in
our power to make your stay here as pleasant and as restful
as 
 Listen, Culbertson, Kemridge said grimly.  We don't want a
vacation here, not even with dancing girls twenty-four hours a
day and soft violins in the background. We don't like it here. We
want to go home. You people got us into this now get us out.
The Consul grew even more unhappy-looking.  I wish you
wouldn't put it that way. We'll do all we can. He paused for a
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Double Dare by Robert Silverberg
moment, deep in thought, and said,  There's one factor in the
case that we haven't as yet explored.
 What's that? Marner asked uneasily.
 Remember the two Domerangi engineers who went to Earth
on the other leg of this hookup? The Consul glanced around the
lab.  Is this place wired anywhere?
 We checked, Kemridge said,  and you can speak freely. What
do they have to do with us?
Culbertson lowered his voice.  There's a slim chance for you.
I've been in touch with authorities on Earth and they've been
keeping me informed of the progress of the two Domerangi. You
know they got through their first two projects as easily as you
did.
The two Earthmen nodded impatiently.
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Double Dare by Robert Silverberg
The old diplomat smiled his apologies.  I hate to admit this,
but it seems the people at the Earth end of this deal had much
the same idea the Domerangi did.
 Perpetual motion, you mean?
 Not quite, Culbertson said.  They rigged up a phony anti-
gravity machine and told the Domerangi to duplicate it just as
was done here. Our psychologies must be similar.
 And what happened? Marner asked.
 Nothing, yet, the Consul said sadly.  But they're still working
on it, I'm told. If they're as clever as they say they are, they
ought to hit it sooner or later. You'll just have to be patient and
sweat it out. We'll see to it that you're well taken care of in the
meantime, of course, and 
 I don't get it. What does that have to do with us? Marner
demanded.
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Double Dare by Robert Silverberg
 If they keep at it, they'll invent it eventually.
Marner scowled.  That may take years. It may take forever.
They may never discover a workable anti-grav. Then what about
us?
The Consul looked sympathetic and shrugged.
A curious gleam twinkled in Kemridge's eye. He turned to
Marner.  Justin, do you know anything about tensor applications
and gravitational fields?
 What are you driving at? Marner said.
 We've got an ideal lab setup here. And I'm sure those two
Domerangi down there wouldn't mind taking credit for someone
else's anti-grav, if they were approached properly. What do you
think?
Marner brightened.  That's right they must be just as anxious
to get home as we are!
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Double Dare by Robert Silverberg
 You mean, said the Consul,  you'd build the machine and let
us smuggle it to Earth so we could slip it to the Domerangi and
use that as a talking-point for a trade and 
He stopped, seeing that no one was listening to him, and
looked around. Marner and Kemridge were at the far end of the
lab, scribbling equations feverishly.
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